Wolfred nelson



(No Model.)

W. NELSON. MEANS FOR DISTINGUISHING VESSELS IN I'OGS.

No. 425,145. Patented Apr. 8, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VVOLFRED NELSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MEANS FOR DISTINGUISHING VESSELS IN FOGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 425,145, dated April 8, 1890.

Application filed January 13, 1890. Serial No. 336,744. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVOLFRED NELSON, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Means for Distinguishing Vessels in Fogs, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide simple and effective means whereby marine vessels maybe distinguished and their courses ascertained from each other or from other points in afog.

It is well known that when a fog hovers over water there is always a clear space a few feet in height between the surface of the water and the bottom layer of the fog. My invention is designed to take advantage of this fact; and it consists, generally, in providing the hull of the vessel with'visual signals and sighting devices, preferably at the bow of the vessel just above and in the region of Plimsolls line, being the highest water-line, so as to be in range with the clear space referred to.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will first describe in detail the mode in which it may be carried into effect, andthen point out its essential features in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings,'forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of the forward part of a vessel to which my invention has been applied. Fig. 2 is an opposite side view of the forward part of the vessel. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of a part of the same on the line 00 00, Fig. 2.

The vessel A is provided on one side of its bow just above and in the region of Plimsolls line, being the highest water-line, so as to be below the usual fog-line, with a horizontal row of glazed port-holes B, and on the opposite side with a vertical row of glazed portholes G. Electric or other penetrating lights being arranged behind the respective portholes B and C, so as to throw corresponding series of light-beams forward and laterally but not rearward, the same will be easily distinguishable from such points on other ves sels or places, as may be also between the water and fog lines, and the different arrangement of the lights on the opposite sides of the vessel will show the course of the vessel. In order that these signal-lights may be observed from other vessels, each vessel is provided on opposite sides forward of said lights and in range therewith-that is, between the water and fog lines-with sighting devices D. These consist, by preference, of open port-holes E, which may be provided with the usual shutters, if desired, and over the inner sides of which, when the said shutters are removed or opened, are detachably secured by tension-screws F sectional cover-plates G, each formed with a spherical bearing II, in which is mounted so as to swing universally a ball I, carrying a telescope J. The telescope .I can thus be readily pointed in any direction for searching for and receiving the signallights of other vessels, and when not needed can be detached and the shutter replaced.

I claim as my invention- 1. I11 a marine vessel, means provided and arranged near or just above the Plimsoll or load line for throwing light outwardly and horizontally therefrom, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a marine vessel, means provided and arranged at or near the Plimsoll or load line thereof for throwinglight outwardly and horizontally therefrom, and also for observation and for receiving light from other vessels, substantially as shown and described.

IVOLFRED NELSON.

\Vitnesses:

ALFRED BALCH, MAURICE RAPP, 

